How Does Asceticism Free You Up?

I do an experiment on asceticism with my students. I teach a course on Christianity and consumerism. And we do an experiment in asceticism that lasts for three weeks. It's based on something that I picked up from another professor at East Carolina University. He calls it the monastic project. Students go without internet, cell phones, earbuds,. meat, alcohol, sugar, artificial ingredients of any kind.